I came late to the Bon Iver party, but ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ is a great album. I saw them when they did Skinny Love on Letterman. So I poked around looking for someone who had written up chords for Flume and, while the chords were mostly right, I felt the tunings were off (saw a lot of standard and 1/2 step down). This version from the album sounds 1/4 step down to me. I pulled the lyrics from some site and I’m just going to have to trust the internet on this one because I have no clue what he’s really singing with that voice.

I recently (whatever) ran into a friend on the internette. He is currently living in London—Hello to you Mark Ess. . . can you find him? He mentioned to me that he has gotten caught up in a small fissure of esoteric gospel music. I was instantly turned off because I thought of Crefflo $’s prognosticating and people of the like who sort of rent godliness; who consign The various Gospels to hoodwink the vulnerable or sell the latest sin. But Mark S. is an amazingly gifted judge of the special— he knows his everything, but he is especially knowledgeable in a great array of music and literature milieus. Mark, I thank you for the recommendation.

Our subject is Sister Gertrude Morgan. She was an artist, the operator of an orphanage, a poet, a missionary, and, as highlighted in the post, she was a preacher. She patrolled the streets of New Orleans tirelessly, spreading The Word of the Lord. Using only her hearty voice, her passion, and—at times— a tambourine, she channeled through herself an unyielding faith “way in the middle of the air.”

Pieces of her art, along with a more specific/better written bio can be viewed here . The paintings remind me, somewhat, of Daniel Johnston’s , maybe? : simplistic, but psychedelic/inspirations from the wily subconscious/a similar style.

When it comes to the Bride of Christ’s recording collection, it is slim pickin’s. I’m going to post a few tracks from a field-recording session from the 1970 Let’s Make a Record. This is a collection that follows Gertrude in her natural state: The Sister; an unaccompanied acoustic extension of her God.

If you want a more contemporary Sister Gertrude experience, King Britt put out a remix album. It’s not just clicks beats and bass from the accomplished hip hop dealer. The King attempts to keep the authenticity of Gertrude’s simplicity and folk ghost. In the recordings, along with the keys and percussions, you will find harmonica, acoustic guitar and other folk wears. It’s a great mix of old and new. “I am the living bread,” has a wonderful feel.

You can purchase both records on amazon.com, so do it brother/sister! Don’t be square.

These Sister Gertrude Morgan ditties hit me the deepest, for the exception of King Britt’s take on Let Us Make A Record. I only added that track so listeners can hear the direct contrast between the two recording sets. Enjoy– three people who view this!

If you are getting frustrated and can not find the play list. Please click the blue Playlist button here.